Pump



June 23, 1936. H. J; RENKEN ET AL PUMP Filed May 11, 1934 INVENTOR. HHRRY J. RENKEIV I E ATTORNEY.

Patented June 23, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PUIVIP Harry J. Renken, Evanston, -Ill., and Frederick Paul Thieman, Tulsa, Okla.; said Renken assignor to Fairbanks, Morse & Company, 0111- cago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 11, 1934, Serial No. 725,026

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pumps, and more particularly to an improved means for indicating the operating condition of the packing for pistons of reciprocating pumps, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pump, in which the condition of the piston packing may be readily ascertained, and packing adjustments effected by means operable externally of the pump cylinder, without interrupting the operation of the pump.

Another object is to provide an improved device for indicating a fluid leakage condition of the piston packing while the pump is in operation, the device including a fluid collector member which constitutes a portion of the packing, and being arranged to engage the piston in substan-- tially the same manner as the packing.

A further object is attained in the provision, in a piston type pump, of a packing gland member adjustably disposed within the pump cylinder, and arranged to form a cylinder liner which constitutes a portion of the pump piston guide surface, ,the adjustment of the gland being effected externally of the cylinder by means of adjusting members extending through a portion of the cylinder and engaging a portion of the gland or liner.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of parts and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of a portion of a preferred form of reciprocating pump, embodying the improvements of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the pump cylinder head, as viewed from line 2--2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the fluid collector member.

Referring, now, to the drawing by numerals of reference, l0 designates generally a preferred fonn of pump frame or casing. The pump frame includes, by preference, a. cylinder l2 in which operates a piston M. The piston is of conventional construction, illustrated as being of the unpacked type, operatively connected with a piston rod- IS. The closure of the cylinder I2 is provided by cylinder heads I8 and 20 which are secured by a suitable number of studs or bolts 2!, suitable gaskets (not shown) being provided between the heads and the frame to insure a fluid tight joint at these points. The rod I6 is, by preference, disposed for reciprocal movement through a central aperture 22 in the cylinder head iii. A suitable stuffing box assembly 24 is provided within a portion of the aperture 22 to prevent leakage of fluid through the aperture and along the rod, during the operation of the pump. The pump may be operated by an internal combustion engine, or any other suitable power device (not shown), as desired. Fluid intake and discharge ports 26 are provided in the cylinder I2, one near each end of the cylinder and are preferably connected by suitable conduits (not shown) to a plate type valve (not shown), which are usually employed in connection with double acting reciprocating pumps.

The cylinder i 2 is, by preference, formed, in part, by a bored portion '28 having a diameter substantially equal to that of the piston, the bored portion extending from the cylinder head l8 to a point which is substantially intermediate the ends of the cylinder. The casing I0 is provided with a bored portion 30 having a diameter substantially greater than that of the portion 28, the bored portion 30 extending inwardly from the opposite head 20 of the cylinder, to a point substantially adjacent the inner end of the bored portion 28; the bored portions forming, by reason of the diiference in their diameters, a shoulder or step 32. A liner or packing gland 34 is, by preference, adjustably and removably positioned within the bored portion 30 of the frame I0. The inner end of the gland 34 is spaced longitudinally from the shoulder 32 to provide a seat for receiving a plurality of packing members 36, the inner diameter of each packing members being substantially equal to the diameter of the bored portion 28 and the inner surface of the liner 34. The liner 34 and packing 36, together with the bored portion 28, form the wearing portion of the cylinder, and which with the piston l4, determines the displacement volume of the pump cylinder. It will, of course, be understood that the packing material 36 serves to seal the piston it throughout its stroke.

The liner or gland 34 is, by preference, adjustably held in compressing engagement with the packing 36 by means of binder bolts 38, the free ends of which are equally spaced from each other and bear against end portions of the gland member. End portions 40 of the bolts 38 are threadedly secured in and extend through the cylinder head 20. These bolts consists of relatively long studs or set screws, and each of the bolts is provided with an enlarged section 42, forming a square or hexagonal head to receive a wrench or other nut engaging tool. As shown, the outermost portion of each of the binder bolts is threaded at 44 to receive an internally threaded cap nut 46. The nuts 46 serve to seal the outer ends of the bolts, and may serve as setor jamnuts for the bolts. Each of the nuts 46 is, by preference, of such a length as to allow for a latitude of endwise adjustment of the bolts, to increase or decrease the compression on the packing 36, and still permit the nuts 46 to seat firmly against the cylinder head 20. By the above provision, the adjustment of the gland 34 and packing 38 may be made externally of the cylinder, and while the pump is in operation. To prevent fluid leakage through the threaded apertures in the cylinder head 20, gaskets 48 are or may be provided between the caps and the cylinder head. The arrangement of adjusting the packing is substantially the same at that which constitutes the subject matter of Letters Patent 1,768,799 issued July 1, 1932, to Fred D. Stanley.

A novel arrangement is provided for indicating the extent of fluid leakage past the piston during the operation of the pump, the arrangement including a fluid collector member 50 which is, by preference, disposed between an adjacent pair of packing members 36. This collector member is, by preference, provided with circumferential grooves or channels 52 and 54, which are formed, respectively, in the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the member. A plurality of radially spaced apertures or slots 56 are provided through the central portion of the collector member, so as to interconnect the inner and outer grooves 52 and 54, adjacent slots being sep arated by bridging portions 58. A threaded aperture B0 is, by preference, formed in a portion of ,the frame i0, and is disposed to overlie a portion of the outer groove 54 of the collector member 50 whereby to provide a fluid passage from the collector member to the exterior of the frame ID. A pet or stop cock 62 of any conventional type is, by preference, secured in the threaded aperture 60 for controlling the fluid flow through the passage.

During the operation of the pump, a fluid pressure exists, alternately, on opposite faces of the piston, hence there is present a tendency for some of the fluid to leak along the piston guide surface, from one side of the piston to the other. If any considerable amount of leakage occurs it will result in a reduction in the efficiency of the pump. Observing the structure of Fig. 1, it will be apparent that when leakage is present in the pump, the leakage fluid will flow from the pressure side of the piston along the piston guide surfaceand across certain of the packing members 36, to the collector member 50. If such leakage be excessive, the grooves and slots of the collector member 5|] will be filled with the leakage fluid, and excess fluid will flow from the collector member through and across the remainder of the packing members 36 to the opposite or suction side of the piston. Such a condition is usually the result of the packing members being. worn or insufliciently compressed. If the pet cock 62 be opened, the leakage fluid will flow, under pressure, from the collectormember through the pet cock. A considerable leakage flow through the stop cock will indicate that thepacking. members 35 need attention, and if the packing is not too worn, the trouble may be remedied simplyby further compressing the packing. A further com pression of the packing membersmay be effected by removing the cap nuts 46 and adjusting the bolts 38 which adjustment, as will be observed in Fig. 1, will result in an endwise movement of the gland 34 to compress the packingmembers 36 against the shoulder 32. Such an adjustment -tion.

of the packing may be readily effected while the pump is in operation, without in any way interrupting the pumping service. It will, of course, be understood that a certain amount of fluid leakage is permissible 'and necessary for lubrication of the pump piston, such leakage accumulating in a portion of the collector member 50 from whence it may flow to the packing as needed to maintain the packing in a lubricated condi- In order to permit a certain amount of fluid to accumulate in the collector member for lubricating purposes, the pet cock 62 is, by preference, disposed near the uppermost portion of the collector device so that a certain amount of the fluid is maintained in the member 50.

The present improvements in a pump of reciprocating type, as hereinabove fully described, effect an increased pump operating efficiency. Moreover, a pump employing the described features is' particularly well adapted for uninterrupted and continuous service over long periods of time. It is to be understood, of course, that the improved indicator arrangement comprising the fluid collector member and pet cock, is not limited to the particular form of pump described herein, but the arrangement may be applied, as well, to a single acting pump.

It will, of course, be understood that the-detailed description of parts and the accompam ing drawing relate only to a single preferred executional embodiment of the invention, and that substantial changes may be made in the described construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention, as-deflned by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination in a pump of reciprocating type and in which the pumped fluid serves as an internal pump lubricant, a frame, a pump piston, said frame being provided with a shouldered portion therein, packing members seated in said frame adjacent the shouldered portion, a combined packing gland and cylinder liner removably and adjustably disposed within a portion of said frame, in engagement with said packing members, said liner and a portion of said frame forming the pump cylinder, a pair of screw-threaded holding elements bearing upon the liner, and projecting externally of the frame for adjusting the position of said liner and regulating the compression of the packing members to control leakage of fluid by said members for cylinder lubrication, a leakage indicating device comprising a grooved fluid collector member disposed between an adjacent pair of packing members, a conduit in fluid communication with said collector member, and a valve controlling the outlet of the conduit and arranged to indicate externally of the frame, the flow of cylinder-lubricating fluid and the adjusted condition of the packing members.

2. In a cylinder structure for a water pump of self-lubricating type, a cylinder having a bore enlarged in diameter over a portion of the cylinder length, a sleeve disposed in the enlarged portion of the bore, and of an internal diameter even with that of the remaining portion of the cylinder, a beveled shoulder connecting the cylinder portions of different diameter, a pair of compressible packing rings between the inner end of the sleeve and the shoulder, a metal ring between the packing rings provided with a groove normally containing an amount of water supplied by leakage from the cylinder and sufficient for lubrication thereof, the metal ring and the 0371- inder wall having communicating passages therethrough, a valve controlling the passage through the cylinder wall, the valve opening and controllable exteriorly of the cylinder for determining the rate of supply of leakage water to the ring, a piston operable in the cylinder, and means adapted for access exteriorly of the cylinder for varying the compression of the packing rings while the valve is open, and cooperating therewith to enable a visual determination and regulation of the flow of leakage water to the ring.

3. In a cylinder structure for a reciprocating pump or a type adapted to be lubricated by the liquid displaced by the pump, a cylinder having a bore of enlarged diameter over part of the cylinder length, a sleeve in the enlarged portion of the bore and or an mteral diameter corresponding to the normal diameter of the cylinder, a beveled shoulder connecting the cylinder portions of different diameters, the sleeve having an oppositely beveled end face opposite said shoulder, a pair of compressible packing rings between the shoulder and the end of the sleeve, a metal ring between the packing rings and provided with a leakage-collecting and distributing groove over its inner periphery, the ring and the wall of the cylinder having communicating leakage passages therethrough, a pet cock externally of the cylinder and controlling the cylinder wall passage, a piston operable in the cylinder, the piston, rings and cylinder wall having a normal or operating clearance suilicient to permit a by-pass or leakage of the displaced fluid to provide for cylinder and piston lubrication, a pair of threaded studs projecting through the head of the cylinder at diametrally opposite locations, and engaging the outer end of the sleeve, the studs and pet cock coacting to enable concurrent observation of leakage flow and variation of the compression of the packing rings whereby to control the leakage about the piston for lubricating purposes, and means external of the cylinder head for sealing the projecting portions of said studs.

HARRY J. RENKEN. FREDERICK PAUL THIEMAN. 

